Issue

When you try to open a packaged workbook in Tableau Reader, the following error occurs:

Tableau Reader cannot open files referencing an external data source

Environment

Tableau Reader

Resolution

To resolve this issue, create an extract of the workbook's data source using Tableau Desktop.

Open the original workbook in Tableau Desktop.

Select the data source from the Data menu, and select Extract Data.

Click the Extract button.

Select File > Save As.

In the Save As dialog box, from the Save as type drop-down list, select Tableau Packaged Workbook (*.twbx).

Open the new packaged workbook from Tableau Reader

Cause

This issue typically occurs when packaged workbooks are saved with a live connection instead of an extract. Tableau Reader does not support live connections to data sources.
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